Ponso is a 40+ year old male chimpanzee. He was born in Liberia. He was orphaned at a young age and used in viral research.
In 1983, Ponso and nineteen other chimps were relocated to an island, close to Azagny National Park in Ivory Coast. The ultimate goal was to release them but in a few months, eleven had died from lack of care or poaching. The nine survivors (including Ponso) were relocated to a smaller island. Five chimpanzees died shortly after this from disease or hunger.